Every month, the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issues a new product recall list and general safety news to protect the public. The March 2009 list is a bit unusual due to its high number of products posing fire and burn dangers or covered with excessive paint lead. In general, most of the companies referenced are voluntarily helping the government warn the public about the possible dangers posed by their products. (To view the comprehensive list of March 2009 recalled products, please visit).

Products That May Pose Shock, Burn and Fire Hazards

• Seventh Avenue is voluntarily recalling 430 Tealight Candleholders (imported by Berkeley Designs of Hawthorne, California) since a fire hazard may develop if side decorations on the candleholders ignite.
• Maytag Corp. of Iowa is cooperating with the CPSC in notifying consumers that 1.6 million of its refrigerators may have electrical problems that could cause fire hazards. (For more details, see)
• Frontrow of California is voluntarily recalling 41,000 NIMH “AA” Rechargeable Batteries because if they become overheated, they can burn consumers.
• Conair Corp. of Connecticut is recalling over 40,000 clothing irons since they pose fire hazards when they overheat.
• Kubota Manufacturing of America Corp. of Georgia is recalling over 9,000 Kubota Zero Turn Riding Mowers because their carburetors’ potential fuel leakage problems can create fire dangers.
• All-Clad Metalcrafters LLC, of Pennsylvania, is recalling close to 30,000 of its 4-Square Belgian Waffle Makers due to faulty wiring that may pose shock and fire hazards. These products are sold exclusively by Williams-Sonoma.

Products That May Contain Excessive Lead

• W. C. Bradley/Zebco Holdings, Inc., doing business as Zebco Brands, of Oklahoma, is voluntarily recalling its Children’s Fishing Poles since the paint on the poles’ reels may contain high levels of lead, in violation of federal standards.
• Montessori N’ Such of Virginia is helping the government recall many of the containers in its instructional kits since the surface paints contain excessive lead.
• Alpargatas USA Inc., of New York, is recalling over 200,000 children’s “flip flops” (sandals) because paint on their soles may contain far too much lead.
• Flora Craft Corp., of Michigan is voluntarily cooperating with the CPSC in recalling close to one million Solar System Kits and DNA Kits. It’s believed that the coating on the kit wires may contain excessive levels of lead.
• Nordstrom’s of Washington, has agreed to assist the government in recalling over 30,000 pairs of shoes for girls because they feature surface paint on the “outer sole” that may include far too much lead.

Part Two of this March 2009: Review of Consumer Product Recall List

focuses on products that may cause choking, crashes, falls and electrocution hazards. It can be found at part two.